In this tutorial, we’ll build a fun and versatile Push & Pull mechanic entirely in Blueprints! Inspired by games like Control and Half-Life Alyx, this feature lets players interact with physics objects dynamically, adding depth and immersion to your game. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your Blueprint skills, this step-by-step guide will walk you through everything from input setup to a polished implementation. Let’s get started!
1. Create Project
Create a new project using the Third Person template with Starter Content enabled.
2. Input Actions
Add an Input Action named “PushPull”. You can add triggers Pressed and Released.
3. Input Mapping Context
Assign the “PushPull” action in the Input Mapping Context. Use a “Swizzle Input” to differentiate between push and pull actions.
4. Quick Input Test in Blueprints
Set up a simple test in Blueprints to confirm that inputs trigger correctly using “Print String” nodes.
5. Input Test Confirmation
Verify that both push and pull inputs work, as shown by the printed messages in the test.
6. Organize Code with Custom Events
Refactor the Blueprint by creating two Custom Events, “Push” and “Pull,” to keep the code clean and readable.
7. Create Push Event
*Implement the “Push” event:
- Perform a Line Trace starting from the player’s location and ending in the forward direction of the camera.
- Use “Add Impulse” on the hit object, applying force in the forward direction.*
8. Create Pull Event
*Implement the “Pull” event similarly:
- The Line Trace is identical, but the impulse vector is multiplied by
-1to pull the object toward the player.*
9. Refactor for Reusability
Combine Push and Pull logic into a single function called “Impulse Item,” controlled by a boolean (Push?) and a float multiplier (1 for push, -1 for pull).
10. Updated Push and Pull Events
Modify the “Push” and “Pull” events to call the unified “Impulse Item” function for cleaner and reusable code.
11. Physics Object Setup
Ensure the target objects have “Mobility” set to Movable and “Simulate Physics” enabled.
12. Final Demonstration
Showcase the finished mechanic with objects being pushed and pulled dynamically.
Thank You!
Thank you for following along with this tutorial! I hope you found it helpful and inspiring for your own projects. If you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions, feel free to share them in the comments or reach out to me directly. Your input is invaluable for improving and creating more content like this. I’d love to hear how you’ve adapted or expanded this mechanic in your games.